argument51 FLY AW 第十六次作业

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题目：ARGUMENT 51 - The following appeared in a medical newsletter.

"Doctors have long suspected that secondary infections may keep some patients from healing quickly after severe muscle strain. This hypothesis has now been proved by preliminary results of a study of two groups of patients. The first group of patients, all being treated for muscle injuries by Dr. Newland, a doctor who specializes in sports medicine, took antibiotics regularly throughout their treatment. Their recuperation time was, on average, 40 percent quicker than typically expected. Patients in the second group, all being treated by Dr. Alton, a general physician, were given sugar pills, although the patients believed they were taking antibiotics. Their average recuperation time was not significantly reduced. Therefore, all patients who are diagnosed with muscle strain would be well advised to take antibiotics as part of their treatment."
字数：524         用时：上午 12:30:00          日期：2006-6-22

In this medical newsletter, the arguer recommends that in view of secondary infections' negative effect in healing from severe muscle strain, all patients who are diagnosed with muscle strain would be well advised to take antibiotics as part of their treatment. To support the recommendation, the arguer cites a study conducted by two doctors, who separately treats a certain group of patients suffering from muscle injuries. The different means exerted in the process of treatment and evident results seem to lend credence to the author's suggestion. However, after scrutiny of this argument, I find that the evidence cited above has a series of fallacies, thus undermine the arguer's recommendation to large extent.

The threshold assumption upon which the augment relies that secondary infections will necessarily happen after the muscle injuries is open to doubt. No evidence is provided that either slight muscle strain or severe muscle injuries would undoubtedly result in secondary infections during the process of healing. It is entirely possible that some patients' immune systems are strong enough that the first injuries could be entirely healed without infections.

Even assuming that secondary infections will necessarily attack patients during the healing process, in the study testing the infections, the groups may be different regarding the age, physical condition. Perhaps the first group is younger and have superior ability for recuperation. Besides, the two groups may have different conditions of injuries, and absorbing abilities of antibiotics. The author also does not provide some relevant living habits concerning the patients treated. Unless the author can convince us that all the above-mentioned aspects regarding the patients are fundamentally the same, statistical reliability of the study is open to doubt.

Another crux of the questionable study lies in the two doctors, who research in different field of medicine. The capability and strength between the two doctors may be different. The newsletter mentions that the first group was treated by Dr. Newland, who specializes in sports medicine, yet the second group was guided by Dr. Alton, a general physician. Perhaps the former is more proficient in treating the muscle injuries, since this kind of ails are more common in sports medicine. Thus the patients in the first group may benefit greatly from their doctor’s excellent skills rather than the use of antibiotics.

Finally, we should also be circumspect with the different prescriptions used in the treatments. In the second group, the patients being treated with sugar pills, instead of antibiotic. Without testament, it is entirely possible that sugar has a negative effect in healing. Perhaps the sugar can impede the process of recuperation and thus slow down the process of treatment.

On balance, as it stands, the recommendation is unsubstantiated. To strengthen the assertion that all the patients suffering from muscle strains should take antibiotics, the author must provide the evidence the essential healthy conditions of patients are nearly the same, and the doctors chosen in the study are equally efficient in treating the muscle injuries. Besides, to better assess the argument, I would need detailed evidence that secondary infections would necessarily happen after the muscle injury, and sugar can act as nothing more than a controlling substance.